Opera-chair hat and wrap rack.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

F. D. LANTBRMAN. OPERA CHAIR HAT AND WRAP RACK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1905.

V/ m V a wr v a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

FRANK D. LANTERMAN, OF

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

OPERA-CHAIR HAT AND WRAP RACK- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK D. LANTERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, county of California, have invented a new and useful Opera-Chair Hat and Wrap Rack, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device which is adapted to be attached to the back of an opera-chair the rack of which when in extended position is adapted to form a hanger upon which hats, wraps, or other articles may be hung, and which hanger can be restored to its normal position, so as to leave no obstruction which would hinder persons from passing to and from their seats.

The main object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the rack when in normal position is folded back substantially parallel with the back of the chair and housed in a suitable case.

Another object is to provide for the ready withdrawal and extension of the rack when it is desired to use the same.

Another object is to provide a construction in which all noise is obviated when placing the rack in either position.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which is very simple in construction, durable in'use, of neat appearance, and occupying small space and which can readily be applied to opera-chairs or chairs of other types without requiring any alteration of the chair.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an opera-chair, showing the device applied thereto, the dotted lines indicating the position of the rack when extended for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section,of the device, showing the rack extended ready for use. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the device, showing the rack housed within the case. Fig. 4 is a plan view of what is shown in Fig. 2, with part of the rack removed. Fig. 5 is a section on line 90 00 Fig. 3. I

The invention comprises a rack which is adapted when not in use to be held close to the surface of the furniture to which the device is attached, but which may be extended so as to project from the furniture and afford Los Angeles, and State of prises a I ample capacity upon which to hang wraps,

l hats, &c.

In its preferred form the invention com casing which is attached to the furniture-for instance, to the back of an operachair--and a rack comprising a rod which is adapted to be housed within the casing when not in use, but may be extended from the casing so as to project away from the furniture, with suitable means for preventing a complete Withdrawal of the rack from the casing and for holding the rack firmly in its extended position.

The invention in its preferred form also includes means for assisting the return of the rack to its normal position within the casing.

1 designates an opera-chair to the back of which is secured a tubular casing 2 by means of clips 3. The upper end of the casing 2 is flared outwardly at one side to form a lip 4 and is provided for a considerable distance in its upper end with internal screw-threads which receive a threaded internal sleeve 5, the upper end of which sleeve is so cut as to form an inclined bearing-face 6 adjacent the lip 4, the lower end of the sleeve 5 having a forming an internal shoulder 7 within the casing 2. .Partially covering the upper ends of the casing 2. and sleeve 5 is a segmental buffer 8, which is preferably composed of a yielding material, such as rubber, the buffer being fastened in place by screws 9, which extend into the sleeve 5. Slidable within the casing 2 is a jointed member the upper section of which forms a rack 10. The lower section or extension 11, which is pivoted to the rack 10 by a pin 12, carries on its lower end a rubber ring 13, interposed between washto the'lower end of the extension 11 for holding the washers and rubber ring on the extension. Above the washer 14 is a similar washer 17, and arranged between the washers 14 and 17 is a coil compression-spring 18.

The upper end of the rack 10 is provided with a head 19, formed, preferably, of a soft yielding material, such as rubber, which may be fastened to the rack by a screw 20, the head 19 affording a suitable stop which when resting upon the buffer 8 prevents further downward movement of the rack when housed, but which also prevents wraps or other articles from slipping accidentally over the end of the rack 10 when placed thereon. In addition to these functions of the head 19 it also affords a convenient handle by which flat edgeers 14 and 15, there being a nut 16 screwed IIO to withdraw the rack and place it in extended position.

The rack, with its extension, is normally housed within the casing 2, as shown in Fig. 3, with the head 19 resting upon the buffer 8 and the spring 18 expanded, as shown. When it is desired to place the rack in condition for use, the rack may be pulled up, together with the extension 11, by means of the head 19, compressing the spring 18 and drawing the washer 17 against the shoulder 7, and the rack 10 may be dropped into the inclined position, resting upon the inclined shoulder 6 and lip 4, and when in this extended position the weight of the rack 10 is suflicient to main- I tain the extension 11 in its upper position,

' line with with the washer 17 resting against the shoulder 7 and the spring 18 compressed between Washers 14 and 17. While in this position wraps may be hung upon the rack, and a hat may be hung over the end of the rack, or canes and umbrellas may be suspended from the rack, or any other apparel or articles which it is inconvenient to otherwise dispose of.

The exposed parts of the device are so de signed as to present no abrupt corners or edges, and the smooth and rounded form of all the exposed features of the device prevent tearing the wraps hung upon the rack and also prevent tearing the clothes of parties moving to and from their seats in the restricted space between the rows of chairs.

When it is desired to return the device to normal position, the rack 10 is swung up into the extension 11 and then dropped down into the casing 2, the spring 18 expanding and hastening the movement; but no noise results form this action, as the rubber ring 18 prevents lateral movement of the extension 11, while the rubber buffer 8 affords a soft cushion upon which the rubber head 19 strikes when the rack drops.

In order to prevent the straining of the device which might occur when the rack 10 is dropped upon the inclined shoulder 6, the spring 18 is provided, which yieldingly resists the upward movement of the extension 11, so that as the rack 10 swings down into place with the shoulder 6 as a fulcrum the latter part of its movement is cushioned by the compression of the spring 18, which absorbs the shock which would otherwise occur at the end of this movement, and the rack 10 settles gently into place with the extension 11 pulled to its extreme upward position, compressing the coils of the spring18 closely together, as indicated.

While I have shown and described the deon the extension for vice as applied to an opera chair, it is obvious that it may be equally useful in connection with other chairs, it being especially designed for chairs used in public buildings, such as theaters, churches, assembly-halls, &c.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that various changes and modi fications may be made therein without de parting from the spirit and scope of the in-' vention.

What I claim is 1. A device of the character described comprising a rack, a tubular casing adapted to receive the rack, means for holding the rack extended from the casing, a head on the end of the rack, and a cushion on the casing upon which the head rests when the rack is housed and which prevents noise when the rack is dropped into the casing.

2. A device of the character described comprising a rack, an extension hinged to the rack, a tubular casing for receiving the rack and extension, and means for preventing withdrawal of the extension from the casing, a spring encircling the extension, means compressing the spring, and an abutment within the casing against which the spring is compressed.

3. A device of the character described comprising a rack, an extension hinged to the rack, a tubular casing for receiving the rack and extension, means for limiting the sliding play of the extension in the casing, and an annular cushion on the extension adapted to bear against the wall of the casm 1. In a device of the character described, a rack, a rubber head thereon, an extension hinged to the rack, a casing for inclosing the extension and rack, a sleeve inside the casing, a rubber ring on the extension, washers on the extension below the sleeve, a coilspring between the washers, the upper end of the sleeve being cut to form an inclined bearing-face, and the upper end of the casing being flared outwardly to form a lip, and a segmental rubber cushion on top of the casing and sleeve against which said head strikes when the rack is dropped and which supports the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Los Angeles, California, this 16th day of February, 1905.

FRANK D. LA NTERMAN.

In presence of GEORGE T. HAoKLEY, G. H. PARRISH' IIO 

